Animation packager for an on-line book

1. An animation system stored in a memory on a computer, wherein the animation system updates a plurality of compiler files, the animation system comprising: at least two graphical images; a data sequencing module which arranges said at least two graphical images in an animated sequence; at least one compilation control file; and an update module which modifies said at least one compilation control file to include a reference to said at least two graphical images.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an image generator which creates said at least two graphical images.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a compiler which creates an on-line book using said at least two graphical images and said at least one compilation control file.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a viewing module which displays the on-line book.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the update module includes an animation parser for modifying a scripting file which is a part of the at least one compilation control file.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein one of said at least one compilation control files contains a script which is incorporated into an on-line book.

7. A computer comprising: an animation system for inserting an animation sequence in an on-line book, wherein the animation system comprises: a user interface module configured to receive input from a user; a data sequencing module which arranges at least two graphical images in a sequence, wherein the at least two graphical images define an animated sequence when the at least two graphical images are displayed in succession; and an update module which modifies at least one compilation control file to include a reference to the at least two graphical images.

8. The computer of claim 7, further comprising an image generator which is used to create the at least two graphical images.

9. The computer of claim 7, further comprising a compiler for creating the on-line book.

10. The computer of claim 7, further comprising a viewing module for reading the on-line book.

11. The computer of claim 7, wherein one of said at least one compilation control files contains a script which is executed during the opening of the on-line book.

12. A system for inserting an animated display into an on-line book, comprising: means for ordering a list of images which are displayed upon the opening of an on-line book; means for inserting the ordered list in a scripting file; means for inserting a reference to each of the images in a project file; means for inputting the project file into a compiler; and means for compiling the scripting file and the images into an on-line book.

13. The system of claim 12, further including means for generating the list of images by successively reading a plurality of filenames from a file.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for ordering further includes means for requesting a user to enter and arrange the at least two graphical images.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for inserting the ordered list in a scripting file further comprises means for identifying a time interval with each of the images, wherein the time interval designates the display time of the image.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for compiling comprises means for compiling the control file and the images into an on-line book which is in the M14 file format.

17. A computer comprising: at least one data file which represents a page of an on-line book; at least two graphical images; at least one compilation control file; an animation system for inserting an animation sequence at the beginning of the on-line book, wherein the animation system comprises: a data sequencing module which arranges the at least two graphical images in a sequence; and an update module which modifies the at least one compilation control file; and a compiler which uses the at least one compilation control file to create the on-line book.

18. A program storage device storing instructions that when executed by a computer perform the method comprising: generating at least two animation frames; arranging the at least two animation frames in a sequence which when displayed in such sequence creates an animated display; designating a display time period for each of the at least two animation frames, indicating the length of time each of the at least two animation frames are displayed; modifying a scripting file, which contains commands which are executed upon the opening of the on-line book, to include commands to sequentially display the arranged at least two animation frames for a time equal to the designated time frame of each of the at least two animation frames; and compiling the at least two animation frames and the scripting file into an on-line book.

19. An animation system for generating an animated sequence, wherein the animation system comprises: at least two graphical images; a scripting file which is used by a compiler to generate an on-line book; an animation parser which updates the scripting file to include a reference to the at least two graphical images; a project file which is also used by the compiler to generate an on-line book; a project parser which updates the project file to include a reference to the at least two graphical images; and a data sequencing module for ordering the at least two graphical images in a sequence.